Chapter 97: News of Father

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Li Baobao’s face turned red. She stomped her foot and said coquettishly, “You are just a bully bandit leader. What kind of life savior are you? Clearly, it is because you played too many bad tricks that things turned out this way. You even caused our relatives to turn against each other. And you still want me to give you money? Aren’t you ashamed?”

“Hey, hey, you are clearly blaming the toilet for being crooked when your own butt is crooked.” Lei Qing said in annoyance, “It was clearly your so-called family members who had evil intentions long ago. This time, they just seized the opportunity. You should be grateful to me. If I hadn’t created this scene to lure them into exposing their true colors and evil intentions, who knows how long you and your father would have been deceived?”

Just as Li Baobao was pouting and wanted to retort, Lei Qing cupped his hands towards Xiahou Huan and said, “Let’s not talk about this anymore. Uncle Xiahou, some of my brothers are injured and have just escaped danger. They need to go to your territory to heal and rest quickly. I have to trouble you.”

Xiahou Huan also chuckled as he watched these two young people teasing each other. Hearing Lei Qing say this, his face turned serious. He patted Lei Qing’s shoulder and said, “We are family, so we don’t need to speak politely. Someone, prepare the carriage and return to Tieling City. Let the best doctors heal their injuries.”

“Thank you, Uncle Xiahou. Also, for those few brothers of mine who died, I need to take their bodies back. I want to bury them personally.” Lei Qing’s face showed some grief and sadness. Although he had only been with them for two or three months, the brotherhood had already been established.

“This is only right.” Xiahou Huan comforted him by patting his shoulder and said solemnly, “I know you are very sad because your brothers died. But those of us who are still alive should live well and avenge our dead brothers, living a more wonderful life. Only in this way can we be worthy of them.”

Lei Qing cupped his hands in gratitude and said, “Thank you for your comfort, Uncle Xiahou. It is just that this matter might implicate you, Uncle Xiahou.”

“Don’t worry. Although our Iron Cavalry Regiment is not a large organization, we have survived until now, and we have never been afraid of anyone.” Xiahou Huan let Lei Qing and others get on their horses. As they walked, he chuckled and said, “Besides, this time you risked your life to save Miss Li’s life under a powerful killer, and you also exposed some people with evil intentions in the Li Family. Given Li Qianlong’s personality, he will surely remember your kindness. At the very least, he won’t care about your blackmail anymore. We came here because we received your message and knew you would arrive at Tieling City these days, so we came out to pick you up in advance. It is a pity that we were still a step late, causing you to almost suffer an accident and lose a few trusted brothers. Hmph, Ten Thousand Eagles Stream. Are the disciples of the Eagle King so amazing? Even if the Eagle King Bai Zhanou came personally, with me, Xiahou Huan, here, I guarantee he can’t touch a single hair on your head. Also, that Poison Eagle Zong Wuji dared to attack you so ruthlessly. I will not let him off.”

“Uncle Xiahou.” Lei Qing also felt heartache for the death of those three brothers, and his face looked a bit pale. “I will avenge this revenge sooner or later. You are not allowed to steal my business.”

“Okay, okay. You have the same temper as your father. If there is a debt of kindness, you must repay it; if there is a grudge, you must avenge it.” Xiahou Huan laughed loudly and said, “Then I won’t interfere in this matter for now. When your cultivation level goes up in the future, you can go and kill Zong Wuji personally. Come, let me see how your riding skills are? Have you been lazy?”

“Haha, Uncle Xiahou, I admit that your strength is much greater than mine. But when it comes to riding skills, I, Lei Qing, will not yield to others.” Lei Qing patted the dyed Wuzhui beneath him with a bit of pride and laughed heartily, “Don’t look at my Wuzhui’s poor appearance now; that is just a disguise to fool people. It is a genuine Black Iron-rank Demonic Beast. I look at your horse, Uncle Xiahou; it is short and small, with messy fur. It shouldn’t be any famous breed. Compared to mine, don’t you feel you are at a disadvantage?”

“Rest assured, although my old partner Short-legged Tiger doesn’t look great on the outside? But it has followed me for many years. Its temperament fits mine, and it is very sturdy and durable.” Xiahou Huan chuckled and said, “Let’s compete and see. The finish line is Tieling City. The loser pays for a jar of wine. Giddy up!” He tapped his legs on the horse’s belly. That short horse actually let out a violent neigh and started running like the wind.

Lei Qing hurriedly chased after him on his horse. As if sensing the master’s intention, the horse sped away like lightning, exerting its maximum speed. However, although Wuzhui was impressive, it was magically unable to catch up with that short horse under Xiahou Huan.

At first, he thought that short horse was good at running on these winding paths. Who knew that once they left the winding path and faced a vast yellow earth plain, that short horse seemed to display its true power. It ran wildly, just like a peerless beast. The aura it revealed was probably at the Bronze-rank Fighting Qi level. This made Lei Qing very surprised, and he secretly thought that one should not judge a horse by its appearance. This short horse, which looked unremarkable, was actually a Bronze-rank Demonic Beast.

Along the way to Tieling City, covering over a hundred li, that Short-legged Tiger showed amazing stamina. It ran the whole distance at almost the same speed, taking only half an hour.

Lei Qing’s Wuzhui was originally a rare fast horse, but it still lagged behind by a short while.

“Haha.” Xiahou Huan, who was personally waiting outside Tieling City, laughed loudly and said, “Nephew, do you know what it means that one cannot measure the sea with a bucket? My Short-legged Tiger, although it looks bad, its explosive power and stamina are top-notch. When I met it on the Huer Prairie back then, it was a true Horse King. I spent three days and three nights to tame it.”

Lei Qing had bragged, and now his face turned red with shame, but he did not take it out on Wuzhui. Instead, he cupped his hands in sincere admiration and said, “Uncle Xiahou has great riding skills and a great horse. Little Nine admits defeat.”

“I have just lived a few more years than you. For someone of your age to reach the Silver-rank.” Xiahou Huan led Lei Qing into Tieling City, “Such a young talent, I haven’t seen many in my life. Polish yourself well. Perhaps the Lei Family can produce another Holy Rank after hundreds of years. Alright, stop looking around. When you have rested, I will take you for a good tour of Tieling. Now, let’s go to my home first. After a short rest, we will hold a welcome dinner for you.”

Xiahou Huan obviously had very high prestige in Tieling City and was quite popular. Many people greeted him, either respectfully or casually. They went all the way to his residence, which was not too big and looked a bit simple.

“Nephew, please don’t mind. Our Iron Cavalry Regiment was established only twenty-some years ago. Our foundation is weak, and there are many places to spend money.” Xiahou Huan chuckled and asked the servants to settle the horses, then led Lei Qing inside, “As for the living place, just make do with what you have. I have to wrong you a bit, Nephew. When I have more money later, I will have someone build a big one for you. Also, I heard about you offending Yu Tianji’s daughter. Don’t worry, no one can do anything to you. Even if Yu Tianji comes personally, he can’t take you away. You can just live in Tieling City with peace of mind in the future.”

“Thank you, Uncle Xiahou.” Lei Qing saluted gratefully. Taking advantage of the moment when no one was around, he asked seriously, “Uncle Xiahou, I have one more thing to ask this time.”

“It is about your father, right?” Xiahou Huan’s face became slightly serious. After thinking for a moment, he said, “Logically speaking, it is not easy for you as a son. You have lived for over twenty years, but you don’t know where your father is or who your mother is. As your uncle, I should tell you. However, your father instructed me back then. Unless you can reach the Gold-rank cultivation before the age of twenty-five, I cannot tell you his whereabouts. Otherwise, he would rather you never look for him in your life.”

Lei Qing’s face gradually darkened. He clenched his fists tightly and said with some indignation, “Uncle Xiahou, why is my father so cruel? For over twenty years, he has never come back to see me once. It seems like I am just a burden in his life. Gold-rank at twenty-five? Haha, what does he take me for? Does he think I have the potential of a Holy Rank? Uncle Xiahou, can you make an exception?”

“Child, don’t blame your father.” Xiahou Huan patted his shoulder comfortingly with a heavy expression and said in a low voice, “No parents don’t love their children, and you are so outstanding. I promise, as long as you reach the Gold-rank before the age of twenty-five, I will tell you the whole truth. Otherwise, I will not reveal a single word. Since I have promised your father, I must keep my promise to him.”

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